We’re now just a week away from the kickoff to the 2025 CFL season! Last week, I previewed the four teams from the CFL’s East Division – Hamilton, Montreal, Ottawa, and Toronto; this week I’ll be bringing you a quick overview of each of the five West Division teams. Reminder as well to those who are interested – the weekly pick ’em pool is linked below, if you feel like predicting game matchups this season – PoolTracker also has a web app for phones and desktops available here!

https://www.pooltracker.com/join.asp?poolid=243178

In league news this week:

• The Montreal Alouettes made the controversial decision to ban airhorns at Percival Molson Stadium for all home games moving forward; while this comes as a relief to many fans across the league (and especially those watching on TSN, who for some insane reason, can’t seem to level the audio correctly to cut down on crowd noise), there is a vocal minority who are furious about the decision and have vowed to push back against it.
• Turns out that longtime Edmonton Elks equipment manager Dwayne Mandrusiak, who was unceremoniously let go from his role back in 2020 when the league was forced to cancel their season amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, will be back for a 50th season with the team. He started as a ball boy back in 1973 and worked his way up the ranks of the teams, winning  11 Grey Cups with the franchise – a pretty amazing career stat.
• Toronto lost key free agent signing DL Bryan Cox, Jr. to a season-ending foot injury earlier this week in training camp; the son of NFL Pro Bowler Bryan Cox, Sr., he most recently spent two seasons in Saskatchewan.
• Saskatchewan lost three-time All-CFL centre Sean McEwen to a torn ACL on Tuesday; that’s a huge blow for the team and he’ll be significantly missed as the anchor of their offensive line.

I’ll be getting back to doing full league-wide news next week as the season kicks off; tune in June 5th to catch the first matchups of Week 1, 2025!

And now, onto the main event.

BRITISH COLUMBIA LIONS

Founded: 1954

Home Stadium: BC Place, Vancouver, BC (54,500)

Grey Cups: 6 (1964, 1985, 1994, 2000, 2006, 2011)

2024 Record: 9-9, third in West; lost in West semifinal to Saskatchewan

GM: Ryan Rigmaiden

Head Coach: Buck Pierce

Starting QB: Nathan Rourke

Famous Alumni:

• Doug Flutie, QB
• Joe Kapp, QB (once fought Ti-Cats defensive lineman Angelo Mosca at an alumni banquet when they were in their 70s!)
• Austin Collie, WR
• Geroy Simon, WR
• Jim “Dirty Thirty” Young, WR/RB (first Canadian USports (university athletic governing body) player drafted to the NFL – Minnesota Vikings, 1965, from Queen’s University. Also a great nickname, though I don’t know where it comes from.)
• Cameron Wake, DE

Fun Facts: One of the main rivals of the BC Lions is actually the Montreal Alouettes, clear across the other side of the country; the two teams have a long-running Labour Day series that is similar to the game traditionally played between Toronto and Hamilton that same weekend. The Lions are also the first team from Western Canada to win a Grey Cup at home, in 1994, and also the only team to beat an American-based team in a Grey Cup, also in 1994 against the Baltimore Stallions.

The Training Camp Scuttlebutt: The Lions spent some big money last year to try and get to a Grey Cup championship held on home soil – and it was all for naught. Despite going over the salary cap by over $300,000 last year, BC had just a .500 record and a first-round playoff exit, which led to head coach Rick Campbell’s dismissal. The Lions started hot last year at 5-1 but slipped in the second half of the year due a number of injury issues, but also personnel decisions. In particular, the biggest controversy on the roster was the fact that the Lions had two bonafide number 1 quarterbacks on the roster; Vernon Adams, Jr. was the incumbent, and he was brought in during the 2022 season to replace Nathan Rourke, who had gone down with a foot injury halfway through the season; when Rourke left for the NFL in the 2023 season, Adams had the starter’s job the entire time. However, with Rourke’s return to the CFL and his giant new contract partway through last year (coupled with an injury to Adams), that balance was once again thrown into disarray, particularly with Nathan Rourke’s struggles to find his form again in the Canadian game. At any rate, something had to give, and the Lions elected to go with the younger option at QB for their future, and Adams moved on to Calgary in a trade. Buck Pierce, former Winnipeg Blue Bombers quarterback and OC, will get his first CFL head coaching job with this year’s Lions squad; I think his offensive schemes have overall been extremely effective for his Winnipeg teams the past few years (asides from Grey Cup games) and I’m confident that will likely translate now that he has the top job. Plus, with Nathan Rourke getting a full training camp in this year, we could very well see a return to greatness.

Key Additions: QB Jeremiah Masoli (FA); RB James Butler (FA); LB Micah Awe (FA); OL Dejon Allen (FA)

Key Subtractions: QB Vernon Adams, Jr. (trade); WR Alex Hollins (released); RB William Stanback (FA); LB Ace Eley (FA);  DB Emmanuel Rugamba, TJ Lee (FA)

2025 Record Prediction: 10-8

CALGARY STAMPEDERS

Founded: 1945

Home Stadium: McMahon Stadium, Calgary, AB (35,400)

Grey Cups: 8 (1948, 1971, 1992, 1998, 2001, 2008, 2014, 2018)

2024 Record: 5-12-1, fifth in West; missed playoffs

GM: Dave Dickenson

Head Coach: Dave Dickenson

Starting QB: Vernon Adams, Jr.

Famous Alumni:

• Doug Flutie, QB (won the 1992 Grey Cup as the starter)
• Jeff Garcia, QB (played 1994-98, won the 1998 Grey Cup, and was a 4-time All-Star before jumping to the San Francisco 49ers)
• Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, LB (was on the 1995 practise roster)

Fun Facts: The 1948 Stampeders are the only professional Canadian football team to ever have a perfect season, when they went 12-0 and won the Grey Cup in Toronto against the Ottawa Rough Riders; the celebrations were so epic that they had a giant pancake breakfast on the steps of Toronto’s City Hall and even rode horses through the lobby of that city’s famous Royal York hotel.

The Training Camp Scuttlebutt: Last year’s Stamps team missed the playoffs for the first time in twenty years, and finished dead last in the CFL. The Stamps have been on a slide the last few seasons as the core roster has  aged, but their lack of success over the last several seasons has also partly been due to ineffective quarterback play. Jake Maier was supposed be a clear-cut starter for Calgary ever since they traded Bo Levi Mitchell in the offseason two years ago, and he’s been wildly inconsistent the entire time. To rectify this, the Stamps took Vernon Adams, Jr. off of BC’s hands this season, as it made no sense to carry two #1 guys each with a massive salary. Adams is definitely an upgrade on Maier and should definitely improve the overall offensive game, but even has his moments of inexplicable foolishness that can crush a team. He’s going to have a really nice group of receivers to throw to (Reggie Begelton, Jalen Philpot, and Dominique Rhymes, plus hopefully a healthy Malik Henry)… At any rate Calgary pretty much needs him to pan out or else we’re going to see wider changes across the organization as a whole, particularly with HC/GM Dave Dickenson who’s been the architect of these last few Stamps squads in every facet.

Key Additions: QB Vernon Adams, Jr. (trade); RB Jeshrun Antwi (FA); WR Dominique Rhymes, Tevin Jones (FA); DL Folarin Orimolade (FA); DB Damon Webb (FA);

Key Subtractions: QB Jake Maier (trade); LB Cameron Judge, Micah Awe (FA); DB Demerio Houston (released); DL Mike Rose (FA); OL Sean McEwen (FA)

2025 Record Prediction: 8-10

EDMONTON ELKS

Founded: 1949

Home Stadium: Commonwealth Stadium, Edmonton, AB (56,302)

Grey Cups: 14 (1954, 1955, 1956, 1975, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1987, 1993, 2003, 2005, 2015)

2024 Record: 7-11, fourth in West; missed playoffs

GM: Ed Hervey

Head Coach: Mark Kilam

Starting QB: Tre Ford

Famous Alumni:

• Warren Moon, QB (longtime Houston Oilers QB and 5-time Grey Cup winner, 2-time Grey Cup MOP, 1983 CFL MOP)
• Joe Anoa’i, DT (now famous as current WWE superstar Roman Reigns)
• Henry “Gizmo” Williams, RB (5’6″, 185 lbs, a forerunner to Darren Sproles & Devin Hester – one of the greatest kick returners in CFL history with 31 kick return touchdowns – 26 punts, 2 kickoffs, and 3 on missed FGs)
• Chris Getzlaf, WR (brother of NHL Anaheim Ducks captain Ryan Getzlaf)
• Willie Pless, LB (greatest defensive player in the history of the CFL; five-time Best Defensive Player, 11-time all-star, Grey Cup winner, and the league’s all-time leading tackler with 1241)

Fun Facts: The Elks won 5 straight Grey Cups between 1978-82, and this streak of dominance is considered to be the best that the CFL and all of Canadian football has ever seen in its history. The team also made the playoffs in 34 consecutive years between 1972-2005, a feat no other team has equalled in any North American pro sports league. Commonwealth Stadium is the largest stadium in the CFL, and is also the traditional home of the Canadian national soccer teams due to its size and its use of a real grass field until 2009.

The Training Camp Scuttlebutt: Last year was a season of transition for the Elks. They started the 2024 season 0-5, which cost GM/HC Chris Jones both of his jobs, but recovered enough to end the year 7-6 following his dismissal. The team also transitioned from being a community-owned franchise to private ownership under local Edmonton construction magnate Larry Thompson, who elected to make some significant changes to the football ops department. Ed Hervey is back in Edmonton for his second stint as GM; he previously served in this role from 2013-16 and won the 2015 Grey Cup with Chris Jones as his head coach. Stints in BC and Hamilton in GM roles did not go as well for him, but virtually anything will be better than what we’ve seen out of Edmonton these past few years. Most notably, the new regime, including new head coach Mark Kilam (the former Stampeders DC), have faith in Canadian Tre Ford to take over the reins as the team’s starting QB on a permanent basis. The fanbase has been clamouring for this for years, and Chris Jones’ lack of support for Ford almost certainly cost the team multiple wins over his time at the helm due to his refusal to let him see the field. While Ford remains young and perhaps a little less polished than some other starters in the league, he’s a true dual threat with probably the best legs of any QB in the CFL and his creativity and improvisational skills in the pocket have been a clear asset to the team. While losing their best wide receiver in Eugene Lewis to free agency isn’t great, I think fans will be satisfied to see Ford finally get a true, real opportunity and a little bit more leash to be a leader on field. The Elks will also lean on their run game to help make some further offensive magic happen; last year’s three-headed monster is down to just two this year, but Javon Leake and Justin Rankin complement each other well with different skill sets. The Elks may be the biggest boom or bust team this year; but considering all the change that’s happened over the last while, I think new ownership values stability and consistency and has made moves that will allow this to happen. I personally lean more towards the likelihood of a boom this year.

Key Additions: QB Cody Fajardo (trade); WR Alex Hollins (FA); DB Tyrell Ford (FA); DL Jake Ceresna, Robbie Smith, Brandon Barlow (FA)

Key Subtractions: QB McLeod Bethel-Thompson (trade); WR Eugene Lewis, Tevin Jones (FA); RB Kevin Brown (FA);  DL Shawn Oakman (FA); DB Loucheiz Purifoy (FA)

2025 Record Prediction: 9-9

SASKATCHEWAN ROUGHRIDERS

Founded: 1910

Home Stadium: Mosaic Stadium, Regina, SK (33,000, expandable to 40,000)

Grey Cups: 4 (1966, 1989, 2007, 2013)

2024 Record: 9-8-1, second in West; lost in West final to Winnipeg

GM: Jeremy O’Day

Head Coach: Corey Mace

Starting QB: Trevor Harris

Famous Alumni: 

• Ron Lancaster, QB/DE (led Riders to the 1966 Grey Cup; 4 time CFL All-Star, 2-time CFL MOP)
• George Reed, RB (9-time CFL All-Star, 1965 CFL MOP, CFL record-holder for rushing TDs with 134)
• Kent Austin, QB (won the 1989 Grey Cup as the Riders’ starter and served as OC in 2007; later served as Hamilton’s HC from 2013-17)

Fun Facts: The Roughriders are one of only two CFL teams currently owned by community shareholders. They are the #3 overall sports team in Canada in merchandise sales, behind only the Toronto Maple Leafs and Montreal Canadiens. Until 2013, you could joke about my alma mater, the Queen’s University Golden Gaels (Kingston, ON) having won the same number of Grey Cups (3) as the Roughriders, despite not playing for the trophy since the 1920s. Finally, it’s very easy to upset Ottawa fans about the Rough Riders/Roughriders controversy of the 20th century, especially since Saskatchewan lawyers blocked the new expansion team in Ottawa from taking their old name back (WE HAD IT FIRST, DAMMIT!).

The Training Camp Scuttlebutt: The Riders returned to the playoffs in Corey Mace’s rookie season as a head coach and look like a team on the rise for this year. While losing in the West final to archrival Winnipeg always hurts Saskatchewan fans, the recent one-sided rivalry with the Bombers is likely going to look much more even this year. Saskatchewan has an elite defense led by an elite defensive coach, and showed lots of creativity on offense last year. The big question mark about this team is mostly whether or not QB Trevor Harris, who turns 38 this year, will have enough in him to stay healthy for a full season. Part of the team’s recent issues have been lack of QB depth, which also justified them bringing in longtime CFL starter Jake Maier in a trade with Calgary to be an experienced veteran backup if and when Harris goes down again. Finally, the Riders are going to desperately hope that Winnipeg takes a further step back this year so that someone else from the division can finally make it to a Grey Cup – with five straight trips dating back to 2019, the Riders would desperately like to knock their prairie rivals off the throne. Anything less would be extremely disappointing for a loyal and long-suffering fanbase.

Key Additions: DL Anthony Lanier, Miles Brown (FA); OL Trevor Reid, Peter Godber (FA)

Key Subtractions: DB Tevaughn Campbell (FA), DL Shane Ray, Mike Rose (FA); OL Sean McEwen (injury); WR Tommy Nield (FA); QB Jake Maier (trade)

2025 Record Prediction: 11-7

WINNIPEG BLUE BOMBERS

Founded: 1930

Home Stadium: Investors Group Field, Winnipeg, MB (33,500)

Grey Cups: 12 (1935, 1939, 1941, 1958, 1959, 1961, 1962, 1984, 1988, 1990, 2019, 2021)

2024 Record: 11-7, first in West; lost in Grey Cup to Toronto

GM: Kyle Walters

Head Coach: Mike O’Shea

Starting QB: Zach Collaros

Famous Alumni: 

• Milt Stegall, WR (played 3 seasons in the NFL for the Bengals before coming north to Winnipeg, where he holds the CFL record for all-time touchdowns with 144; also a 9-time CFL All-Star but never won a Grey Cup)
• Tom Clements, QB (won 1976 Grey Cup with the Ottawa Rough Riders, as well as the 1984 Grey Cup with the Bombers; currently serving as the Green Bay Packers’ assistant head coach)
• Bud Grant, Head Coach (4x Grey Cup champ as Bombers’ leader, and later coached the Minnesota Vikings for 18 years and won the 1969 NFL championship)

Fun Facts: The Blue Bombers are owned by a community-based collective, in extremely similar fashion to the Green Bay Packers, and are the second of two CFL teams still with this model of ownership. They were also the first team not from Ontario or Quebec to win a Grey Cup, with their initial 1935 victory. The Bombers have the most Grey Cup game appearances of any CFL team, with 25 title games played.

The Training Camp Scuttlebutt: The Bombers have been to five straight Grey Cup championships; this would be an even more amazing feat if they managed to win most of those games, but due to the fact that they’ve now choked in three straight title games, the team now has to contend with the media still questioning their desire to perform under intense scrutiny and pressure. There is going to be a reckoning for this team at some point, but the main question is whether that reckoning is going to come this season or will be put off for potentially one more year. There has definitely been more roster turnover in Winnipeg than normal; WRs Kenny Lawler and Drew Wolitarsky jumped ship to Hamilton, while longtime defensive stalwart LB Adam Bighill, who is 36 this season, won’t be back as well. Moreover, those who are there have played a ton of football over these past few seasons – when will the mileage accrued over all those playoff games, etc. finally catch up with them? Finally, Zach Collaros, as good as he’s been in his time with Winnipeg, had a slow start last season, and will turn 37 this year. There’s not a lot of QB depth behind him if age catches up to him; he’s also suspended for one game to start the year due to not responding to a league-mandated drug test in the offseason. Winnipeg has been a model franchise both on and off the field for the last seven years, but time catches up with all of us eventually.

Key Additions: WR Dillon Mitchell, Jerreth Sterns (FA); RB Peyton Logan (FA); DL James Vaughters (FA); LB Jonathan Jones (FA)

Key Subtractions: DB Tyrell Ford (FA); WR Kenny Lawler, Drew Wolitarsky (FA), Ontaria Wilson (released to NFL); LB Adam Bighill (FA)

2025 Record Prediction: 10-8

And that concludes your 2025 team previews, folks! I look forward to kickoff next Thursday, June 5th – hope to see you back here, same bat-time, same bat-channel.